London assembly officials are considering an investigation into Green Party leader Zack Polanski after he admitted he may have failed to pay the correct council tax while living on a houseboat in east London. The Greater London Authority (GLA) monitoring officer is assessing a formal complaint lodged by Labour chair Anna Turley, who alleges a potential breach of conduct by Polanski as an assembly member.
Polanski has faced questions over whether the houseboat was his primary residence. A Green Party spokesperson described the situation as an “unintentional mistake” and said Polanski had “immediately taken steps” to pay any tax owed. Government guidance states that a person may be liable for council tax on a boat if it is their “sole or main” residence.
The monitoring officer confirmed receipt of the complaint, stating it would be considered under the GLA’s standards regime. The process includes an initial assessment, a written response from Polanski within 7-10 days, and consultation with two independent advisors before a decision on whether to proceed with an investigation. Sanctions for breaching ethics rules can include a meeting or apology.
Waltham Forest council has also launched an investigation into whether any council tax was owed on the mooring. Turley’s letter cited section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, which requires GLA members in arrears on council tax for two months or more to declare that fact and prohibits them from voting on related financial matters.
A Green Party spokesperson said: “Zack is aware of complaints made by the Labour party and the Conservative party. He denies any wrongdoing and will cooperate fully with the official process to answer any queries.” A GLA spokesperson added that it would not be appropriate to comment further while the process is ongoing.
